How to watch NASA’s Artemis II flying past the Moon live

by

Today, April 6th, NASA’s Artemis II mission is reaching a historic milestone as the astronauts fly by the Moon. This is a major event for human space exploration, and you can watch it live from home.

This mission is a historic return to lunar travel, marking the first time humans have ventured beyond Earth’s immediate orbit since 1972. The four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are traveling farther into space than any person has gone before – a significant step forward for humanity.

Since beginning their journey on April 1st, the crew has been traveling through space and is now nearing the Moon. They’re getting ready for a highly anticipated close pass of our lunar neighbor.

The 10-day Artemis II mission is more than just a show. It’s a vital test flight to prepare for future lunar landings, with NASA planning to return astronauts to the Moon before the end of the decade.

How to watch the Artemis II Moon flyby live

You can watch the entire Artemis II mission live for free! NASA will be streaming it on NASA+, through the NASA app, on other streaming platforms, and across all its social media accounts.

You can watch the mission live on the space agency’s website and YouTube channel, complete with insights from experts. There’s also a dedicated livestream just for the flyby, available here.

You can also stream the historic event on platforms like Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, and Roku.

What time does it start?

The spacecraft will fly past the Moon on Monday, April 6, 2026, starting around 10:00 AM Pacific Time or 1:00 PM Eastern Time.

I’m so excited! NASA’s Artemis II mission is going to be flying past the Moon today, and it’s going to be live-streamed! Here’s when you can tune in, depending on where you are: 10 AM Pacific Time, 1 PM Eastern Time, 6 PM in the UK, 7 PM in most of Europe, 9 PM in the UAE, 2 AM in Japan, and 3 AM in Australia. I wouldn’t miss it!

— TopMob (@TopMob) April 6, 2026

You can check out several time zones below so you know when to tune in: 

  • 10am PT
  • 1pm ET
  • 6pm UK
  • 7pm CET
  • 2am Japan (April 7)
  • 3am Australia (April 7)

As a huge space fan, I was so excited to see NASA posted a schedule of events! They let us know what’s coming up, which is awesome. Just a heads-up, the times they gave are Eastern Time and could potentially change, so keep that in mind.

  • 12.41pm – Orion enters lunar sphere of influence at 41.072 miles from the Moon
  • 1.30pm – The science officer in mission control will brief the crew on their science goals for the upcoming flyby
  • 1.56pm – The Artemis II crew is expected to surpass the record previously set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970 for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth
  • 2.45pm – Lunar observations begin
  • 6.44pm – Mission control expects to temporarily lose communication with the crew as the Orion spacecraft passes behind the Moon
  • 6.45pm – During “Earthset,” Earth will glide behind the Moon from Orion’s perspective
  • 7.02pm – Orion reaches its closest approach to the Moon at 4.070 miles above the surface
  • 7.07pm – Crew reach their maximum distance from Earth during the mission
  • 7.25pm – “Earthrise” marks Earth coming back into view on the opposite edge of the Moon
  • 7.25pm – NASA’s Mission Control Center should re-acquire communication with the astronauts
  • 8.35–9.32pm – During a solar eclipse, the Sun will pass behind the Moon from the crew’s perspective
  • 9.20pm – Lunar observations conclude

What to expect from the lunar flyby

The most exciting part of the Artemis II mission will be when the Orion spacecraft flies past the Moon on April 6th. It will come within 4,000 to 6,000 miles of the lunar surface, offering the astronauts a unique opportunity to see the far side of the Moon.

It’s good to make new friends, but don’t forget your old ones. A recent photo shows both the side of the Moon we always see from Earth (with its familiar dark markings) and the side we never do. The astronauts of the Artemis II mission are the first people to ever see the far side of the Moon with their own eyes.

— NASA (@NASA) April 6, 2026

For up to 50 minutes during this period, we may lose communication with the spacecraft as it passes behind the Moon, highlighting the immense distance the crew is from Earth.

During their mission, the astronauts will be taking photos and videos, and also conducting scientific studies. A highlight could be witnessing a solar eclipse, which will provide an extraordinary look at the Sun’s corona.

The crew of Artemis II consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. This mission will be historic for Canada, as Hansen will be the first Canadian to travel this far into space.

The mission should last about 10 days. The Orion capsule is scheduled to come back to Earth later this week, landing in the Pacific Ocean near California. It will come back through the atmosphere and use parachutes for a safe splashdown, assuming everything goes as planned.

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards landing humans on the Moon again, with plans aiming for 2028. NASA’s long-term goal is to build a lasting base on the Moon and eventually use it to prepare for future crewed missions to Mars.

Read More

2026-04-06 18:50